Retail Pharmacy Assistant

Your at-home learning program includes four Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you’ll employ in your new career as a Retail Pharmacy Assistant. Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrolment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

Instruction Set 1

• The Retail Pharmacy Assistant
  • The history of pharmacy; modern-day pharmacy; retail pharmacy; the pharmacy assistant; responsibilities of the pharmacy assistant; your position of trust as a pharmacy assistant; the successful pharmacy — giving your customers the service they really need.
• Successful Selling
  • Creative selling; sell to a plan; know your product; sources of product knowledge; tell a planned story; understand your customer; appeal to human desires; make use of the buying motives; how motives are applied to pharmacy; analyze your customer; sell by suggestion; how to make suggestions; use showmanship in your selling; close the sale.
• Working in a Pharmacy
  • Customer relations — what customers do and don’t like; product groups; housekeeping in the pharmacy; display in the pharmacy; pharmacy terminology; the four golden rules; restricted medicines; prescriptions; glossary of prescription terms; glossary of terms.

Instruction Set 2

• Analgesics, Coughs, and Colds
  • Pain and its origin; special types of painful conditions; ingredients of analgesic preparations; analgesic products in your pharmacy; aspirin and vitamin C; the base of analgesics; the common cold and the flu; sore throats; coughs; coughs and cold preparations for children; associated sales.
• Common Ailments
  • Acne; cold sores; corns; diarrhea; digestive disturbances; digestive products; ear infections, eye infections; hemorrhoids; hay fever; allergies; insomnia; sleep aids; lip and mouth problems; muscular aches and pains; nasal problems; skin problems — lotions and creams; warts; parasitic worms.
• Vitamins
  • What vitamins are; deficiency symptoms; food as a source of vitamins; water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins; vitamin A; the B-vitamin group — thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, vitamin B12, folic acid, para-amino-benzoic acid, choline, inositol, and biotin; vitamin C; vitamin D; vitamin E; vitamin K; vitamin needs.
• Supplement:
  • Anatomy and Diseases of the Respiratory Tract

Instruction Set 3

• Baby Care
  • Baby care and pharmacy; caring for a baby; feeding - breastfeeding infant; formulas; components of artificial formulas and problem feeders; diapers; teething; dental care; weaning; flatulence; colic.
• Foot Care
  • Foot care and pharmacy; caring for the feet; foot problems; footwear; footwear products.
• Beauty Aids
  • The role of pharmacies in beauty aid products; hair care; home hairstyling products sold in pharmacies; nail care; skin care; skin types; hints on skin care; skin care products — special treatments; makeup; special issues.
• Supplements:
  • Oral Hygiene
  • Feminine Concerns

Instruction Set 4

• Convalescent Aids
  • Principles of home health care for the convalescent; advertising and sales promotion; the convalescent’s department; crutches; canes; walkers; commodes, bedpans, and urinals; comfort items; cervical traction kits and collars; wheelchairs; ostomies; ostomy accessories; urinary incontinence appliances.
• Health Supports
  • Principles and applications of health supports; body mechanics; framework; health supports for arms and legs; health supports for the trunk; elastic support hosiery; other health supports; arthritis; glossary of terms.
• Pet Care
  • Pet care products in the pharmacy; common pet ailments; handling medicines; pet health; vitamins and mineral supplements; inoculations; first aids; grooming; checklist for pet care.
• Supplements:
  • Contact Lenses
  • Now that You Have Finished

Online Library and Librarian
Students in ICS Canada have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and assist students in research activities during their studies with ICS Canada.

In order to further enhance your performance in this field, ICS has researched and recommended specific practical activities designed to complement your course work.
To ensure that you acquire the manual skills which are important in this program area,
we encourage you to follow all of the course instructions.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.